NEW DELHI: Lahore Qalandars on Thursday confirmed the signing of Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman for Pakistan Super League Season 11, shortly after he was released by IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders.
Rahman's exit from the KKR squad, which came following directions from the BCCI, set off a chain of developments that quickly spilled beyond cricket. While the Indian board did not publicly spell out the exact reasons for the decision, it cited broader circumstances, a reference widely linked to the strained diplomatic situation between India and Bangladesh.
The episode escalated further when Bangladesh announced its withdrawal from the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, citing security concerns, despite the ICC maintaining that the threat perception for the tournament in India and Sri Lanka remained low.
In a show of solidarity with Bangladesh, the Pakistan government subsequently declared its decision to boycott the marquee T20 World Cup fixture against India.
Rahman, originally picked by the Qalandars in 2016 and 2018, is now set to don the Qalandars' colours once more. The signing was agreed at PKR 6.44 crore (roughly Rs 2 crore in INR).
"Once a Qalandar, always a Qalandar. Mustafizur is not just a player; he's a brother, a key part of our family who never left," said Sameen Rana, Owner, Lahore Qalandars.
Earlier, Qalandars had retained captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, key batter Abdullah Shafique, dynamic all-rounder Sikandar Raza, and skilled youngster Mohammad Naeem.
Rahman's signing strengthens the team's core ahead of the big auction and sets the stage for a strong campaign.
